On The Market - Wirral's No1 Property Magazine May 2014 | Page 7

Fort Perch Rock

Defending Merseyside’s
heritage since 1829
In 1803 Liverpool merchants concerned about a
possible invasion by the French during the Napoleonic
wars put forward the idea of a fort at New Brighton.
Naturally there were disputes about how it was to
be financed and consequently construction didn’t get
under way until 1826.
It was completed three years later. It was built out

the wrong elevation on their gun and the shell flew

of red sandstone blocks on a base of sandstone

over the ship and landed in Hightown on the other

rocks, confusingly known as the Black Rocks.

side of the Mersey. Apparently an irate householder
collected the shell, put it in a bucket and took it to

Designed by a Captain John Sikes Kitson of the Roy-

the Merseyside Defence HQ and demanded some

al Engineers, it had room for 100 men plus officers

kind of explanation! The captain of the Norwegian

with adequate provisions and armaments. It had

vessel when eventually challenged about his ship’s

18 guns, sixteen of which were 32-pounders and

use of the closed channel replied that h